Veto votes create drama-filled final day of legislative session (AUDIO)

A final day of the legislative session, filled with drama, approaches.

The final day of this 60-day legislative session was scheduled for Thursday, April 12th. The Speaker of the Legislature, Mike Flood of Norfolk, postponed the final day to allow the legislature to react to any vetoes by Gov. Dave Heineman.

React they will, to plenty of vetoes. Legislators will consider override motions on as many as four vetoes. Two stand out. The governor and the legislature have had high-profile clashes on LB 599, which would extend prenatal care to mothers in the country illegally, and LB 357, which would allow cities to ask their residents to approve an increase in their sales tax.

The governor also vetoed the historic horse racing bill (LB 806) and the bill creating a state grant program for school-based health centers (LB 1020).

Speaker Flood tells Nebraska Radio Network his move to postpone the last day of the session isn’t unprecedented. He says it occurred during the 1990s.

“It’s not altogether unusual, because every year I plan for this very event,” Flood says.

The delay has subjected lawmakers to nearly a week of campaigning from both sides of the various bills, but Flood doesn’t believe the delay increases the pressure lawmakers feel.

“I’d say it maybe highlights the actions a little bit more,” Flood says. “I wouldn’t say it’s any more stressful, because it’s just a couple of more days that we get the opportunity to hear from people across the state and I think that’s a good thing.”